Source: FOOTYMAD
R&R At The Right Time
Motherwell appear to have played more competative games than anybody so far this season so are enjoying the prospect of a Saturday off. Keith Lasley believes the international break has come at the right time for Motherwell as they move their concentration from the Europa league to the bread and butter of the SPL. Motherwell have already played nine competitive games this season, six of them in the Europa League. The Steelmen were knocked out of the play-offs despitea dominant performance during a 1-0 home defeat against Odense last Thursday. Due to the lack of depth in Craig Brown's squad, all 11 players who featured against the Danes were also involved in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Celtic whose side featured five changes to their starting line-up following their European exit in Utrecht. Motherwell were further stretched when Stevie Hammell suffered a hamstring injury and Steve Jennings went off at half-time through illness. Midfielder Lasley feels some R&R is necessary for players to adjust and re-focus their determination to kick-start Motherwell's SPL campaign after Daryl Murphy's 73rd-minute penalty consigned them to a second home defeat in the league. Lasley said: "Thursday night was a big occasion for the club and a big occasion for all the players. Whether that took an edge off us, I don't know. I don't think we got to the standards we did on Thursday, albeit we didn't go through, but I think we played better football. We've got a small squad and all the players who played on Thursday played on Sunday again. Celtic were able to make a few changes and maybe that little bit of freshness got them there. As the game went on, they certainly created more chances." Despite enjoying the break, Lasley is already looking forward to Motherwell's trip to McDiarmid Park on 11 September. He said: "It could be important that the players who have played the majority of the games now get a rest and a few days off and be ready for our next game against St Johnstone. A lot of the players have played in all of those games. Everyone is looking forward to getting a couple of days off and recharging our batteries and having an assault on the league now. Obviously the European thing was great and we would have loved to get through. But now our sole focus is going to be the league and that St Johnstone game." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net
